Stray bullet hits teen sleeping in yard

A 13-year-old girl who was sleeping in the courtyard of her house was hit by a stray bullet during a shootout between two groups in Khangar area of Rawalpindi, the Chontra police said on Thursday.

Police said according to the complaint, filed by the victim’s father Noor Khan, the shootout took place between two groups that belonged to the ‘encroachment mafia’ of Faisal Town and Blue World City housing societies.

The complainant said that he was sleeping with his family in the yard of their house when the gunfire started. During the fierce exchange, a bullet hit his 13-year-old daughter who was seriously injured, Khan said in his complaint. The injured girl was taken to a hospital.

The police said a case had been registered against the shooters including the owners of the two housing societies. It included sections 323 (attempt to murder) and 109 (aiding and abetting) along with provision pertaining to spreading fear by discharge of firearms.

Police said they were investigating the case but were yet to make any arrests.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2023.